It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The plot is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
